Hair curler with telescoping hair clamping stem



Sept. 14, 1965 H. F. MOORE 3,

HAIR GURLER WITH TELESCOPING HAIR CLAMPING STEM Filed Nov. 23, 1962 4 Illlgl l lllb I 34 V 20 my fi F 15- 4 l maze/.0 F. M0025, INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,205,%1 HAIR 'CURLER WITH TELESCOPING HAIR CLAMPING STEM v Harold F. Moore, 19712. Kittridge, Canoga Park, Calif. Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 23?,522 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-40) The invention relates to hair curling devices and particularly to a multiple piece arrangement so formed and arranged that the hair curling operation is rendered more efficient and the comfort of the wearer is substantially improved.

. A major dissatisfaction with most prior art hair curling devices relates to the discomfort it induces to the wearer. Those familiar with this field will recall that a frequently used hair curling device comprises a cylindrical wire mesh defining numerous openings peripherally of the cylinder. A core element is fixedly positioned within the wire mesh cylinder and is composed of a large number of bristles connected to a central metallic wire or the like, the bristles projecting radially outwardly from the wire to project through the openings defined by the cylindrical wire mesh. In a frequently used device the bristles project about oneeighth of an inch above the wire mesh. To use this prior art curler an elongated segment of hair is selected and separated from the. rest of the wearers hair. The curler is. manually placed at the terminus of the selected segmentwith its long axis generally transverse of the long axis of the segment. The hair is caused to adhere to the curler by virtue of its disposition in the bristles and thereupon the curler is rotated toward the wearers head causing-the segment of hair to roll upon the curler. When the roll is completed and the head reached, the now rolled hair as well as the mesh cylinder is pierced with a pin like element,- which frequently is composed of plastic and resembles a small pointed tipped rod, this pin element functioning to retain the curler in position immediately adjacent the wearers head.

While it is true that the above described prior art device does function to produce appropriate curls in the hair it has-also been found to have many disadvantages. A major disadvantage relates to the comfort of the wearer. Experience has shown that the sharp bristles, as a result of normal use, engage the wearers skin inducing irritation and discomfort. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that the curling operation usually takes from one to three hours depending upon the method of drying employed. The mentioned discomfort and irritation for such a period of time has resulted in a great deal of complaint by women users. The discomfort is increased if the wearer attempts to lie down or sleep after the curling operation. Additionally, the sharp bristles have been found to break the hair or split the hair ends of many users. This breaking or splitting results in an undesired fuzzy appearance of the wearer after the curling operation is completed. Further, these prior art devices tend to retain dirt and hair segments after use and are very difficult to clean. The unsanitary possibility of transmission of scalp infection from one wearer to another in the commercial beauty shop results.

Another prior art type curling device employs merely a hollow open ended cylinder. This curler may be composed of any material but a frequently used material is cardboard with a plastic film on the surface thereof. The wearer again selects a segment of hair and positions the curler adjacent the terminus thereof as above described. The hair and curler are again rolled to immediate juxtaposition with the wearers head and then a plurality of clip means such as bifurcated bobby pins are mounted on the ends of the curler in pressure engagement with the surface of the rolled hair and the inner surface of the "ice cylinder. In this manner the curler and hair is maintained in curled position.

This second mentioned prior art device has also prepresented disadvantages. In the first instance it is extremely ditficult for the home user to self roll the curls. This diificulty is related to the fact that the users hair is of varying length. As a result it is awkward to position and maintain all strands of the selected segment on the curler and it is further difiicult to maintain an even roll. These disadvantages also present themselves in the commercial operation though it is easier to accomplish the rolls when a beauty operator is working on the wearers head. Note however, that time is an important element in the operators commercial operation. When each roll is completed the operator must sequentially pick up and position the mentioned plurality of bobby pins to complete and fix the curls. Patently, this difiiculty in rolling and the multiplicity of hand operation in bobby pin selection and positioning results in an undesired time waste in the commercial hair curling operation.

Turning attention to the herein disclosed arrangement it will subsequently appear that the above described disadvantages of many prior art devices are eliminated and many new advantages offered. For example, a review of the following specification will show that improved curling will result by employing the disclosed device. Specifically, the device is formed and arranged so that the rolled hair is evenly clamped around the curler surface thereby providing a smooth and uniform wave to the hair.

In addition to having the advantages of economy the herein disclosed device is readily cleanable. The disclosed device is of unitary construction in the sense that it is totally operable within itself and does not require that the user employ separated cooperating means such as piercing elements or clip means. In more detail, the disclosed arrangement comprises a cylindrical open ended roller having, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of holes uniformly distributed around the surface thereof.

Those portions of the cylinder wall which define the holes are arranged to offer camming means for cooperating structure hereinafter described. Disposed within the cylindrical roller is a stem, said stem being elongated and congruently disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the roller. Projecting from and preferably integral with the stem are a plurality of flexible fingers, said fingers being uniformily distributed around the stem. A considerable number of the fingers are arranged to. complement in disposition the mentioned holes in the roller while other fingers are arranged to cooperate with the terminal end of the roller. As seen inelevation, each of the fingers is of generally U-shaped construction, the terminating end of one or inner leg of the U being cantilever connected to the stem, while the terminating end of the other leg of the U is provided with a sharply radially outwardly bent segment, which, as will hereinafter appear, will cooperate with the mentioned camming means to offer efficient hair clamping after completion of the hair roll. An important result of this unitary construction is that the time required to complete the roll set adjacent the wearers head is considerably reduced. This represents a desirable advantage to all users and especially to the commercial operator.

In addition to the above advantages, the disclosed device offers the user increased comfort, is readily, cleanable and thereby provides a high degree of sanitation not found in many prior art devices.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description and from an examination of the concerned drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a composite side elevational' view, partly parts of the detention toFIGURE 1 it will be seen that the device comprises and open ended generally cylindrical roller or member 2 and a separable finger mounting stem 4. Both the roller 2 and stem 4 are preferably made from a plastic material thereby offering flexibility and wearer comfortand eliminates any problem of corrosion which could result from the liquid and chemicals employed in hair dressing. Those familiar with thisart will readily understand that any rust which may form on bobby pins or the like tends to stain the wet'hair and produce an undesirable result.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention thecylindrical roller 2 is hollow and is open at both ends as well as being-of uniform diameter throughout its length; A plurality of apertures or holes 8, 8 are formed in the wall of the'roller and are preferably uniformly distributed throughout the peripheral surface thereof. It will be specifically noted that the wall of the cylinder which defines each of the holes 8 is not parallel to radial lines passing through the long axis of the cylinder, butrather'said wall is angled relative to such radii as clearly seen at 10, 10. Additionally, the end 6 of the cylinder 2 is provided with a slight shoulder 12 which also defines a-cam surface 14 again in acute angular relation to the long axis of the cylinder.

Turning to the stem 4 it will be seen to comprise a-central rod 16 having a plurality of radially projecting and integral bosses 18,18 formed thereon.- Each boss serves as a mounting means for a related -U-shapedfinger 20, 20. Each finger 20 is so formed and arranged that the radially inner legof the U is integrally connected at its terminus with the related boss 18. Each finger 20 is therefore further projected in its extant both 1ongitudinally and radially of the stem 16. It should be noted that, in the preferred embodiment, the radially inner leg 22 of each finger 20 is relatively straight in projection, while the radially outer leg 24 of each finger is crimped as at 26 to provide a section 28 biased radially inwardly and is further crimped as at 30 to provide a section 32 bent radially outwardly. For purposes the hereinafter described operation of the device it will be understood that the section 32 may be somewhat pointed at its end and the inner surface of the section 32, here designated 34, will be defined as the finger cam surface.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 2 and 3' which illustrate the device in unitary assembled arrangement. Here it willbe particularly noted that a major number of the fingers 20 are arranged for determined alignment with the holes 8 within the cylinder 2. That is to say each finger has a related operatively complementing hole 8. An'exception exists with reference to the fingers 20 mounted adjacent the end. 40 of the stem 16. These fingers are arranged to operatively cooperate with the cam surface 14 at the cylinder end 6 and to overlie the shoulder 12 formed thereon. Noting both FIGURES 1 and 3 it'will be seen that the fingers 20 are preferably arranged in groups longitudinally of the stem 16 (FIG- URE l) and the fingers in each group are spaced around the stem 16 in equal angular relation to each other (FIG- URE 3).

Directing attention to composite FIGURE 4 it will be understood that herein the operation of the device is illustrated. Note also that this figure is fragmentary in that only a single finger is shown. parent, however, that all of the fingers function similarly in curler operation. The stem 4 is inserted within the left end of the cylinder 2 inducing the flexible fingers 20 to. compress radially inwardly by virtue of pressured engagement with the inner surface of the cylinder. The stem 4 is moved longitudinally of the cylinder 2 until all fingers 20 reach the position shownat 44 in FIG- URE 4. Note in this position the section 32 is disposed within hole 8 but the tip thereof is immediately adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 2. In this relative position of the arrangement the user selects a portion of the wearers hair and the rolling operation is undertaken as hereinabove described. When the rolling operation is completed and the curler is located immediately adjacent the wearers head, the operator manually engages the end 40 of the stem 4 and causes relative motion thereof to the left as seen in the lower views of composite FIGURE 4. As a result of this motion the cam surface 34 of the finger 20 engages the cam surface 10 of the hole 8 causing the segment 28'of the finger 20 to bias sharply upwardly. This sharp upward movement causes the pointed tip of segment 32 to pierce the rolled hair without important disturbance thereof and allowing same to overlie the adjacent rolled hair. This action is illustrated at 46 in FIGURE 4. Further leftward motion of the stem 4 brings the base or leg connecting segment 48 of the U-shaped finger 20 into registry with hole 8 whereupon the flexible biasing action of segment 22 urges the segment 48 into the hole 8. This accommodates the normal flexible radially inward biasing action of the segment 28 to move into clamping relation with the outer surface of the cylinder 2. This is illustrated at 50 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the curling device in use condition. The numeral 52 is illustrative of appropriately rolled hair on the cylinder 2. It will be noted that all of the fingers 20 are in clamping relation with the hair 52 and that said fingers are uniformly distributed around the peripheral surface. This results in an even clamping of the hair and contributes to an improved final curl.

It will also be apparent that the rolling and clamping or final positioning of the device is easily and efficiently accomplished. Further this entire operation is completed without the necessity of the operator removing the hands from the roll thus eliminating extra motion to grasp locking devices such as bobby pins as well as reducing the possibility of accidental roll disturbance.

It will also now be understood that the disclosed device clearly meets all sanitation requirements and will not result in broken or split end hair. Improved wearer comfort is also a feature in that the sharp pointed bristles of prior art devices are not employed. Additionally the device may readily be manufactured from somewhat pliable plastic material thus further lending to user comfort.

The invention as shown and described is by way of illustration and not limitation and may be subject to modification without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hair curling device an open ended cylindrical member, the entire outer peripheral surface of the member being adapted to receive rolled hair strands,

a plurality of openings inpredetermined disposition around and longitudinally spaced from each other along the peripheral surface of the member,

a stem element telescopically received within the member and movable relative thereto both rotatively and longitudinally, relative longitudinal movement between the element and the member being operative to move the device from open to closed position thereof,

It will beap-- a plurality of generally U-shaped flexible fingers in predetermined disposition both around and longitudinally spaced along the stern element and arranged to extend generally axially and radially of the stem element,

each of said fingers having the terminus of the radially inner leg of the U cantilever connected to the stem element,

the radially outer leg of each U-shaped finger having a terminal cam surface thereon, the outer leg of each finger being arranged to pressure engage the inner peripheral surface of the member in open position of the device,

said fingers being alignable with related openings,

whereby upon determined relative longitudinal motion between the stem element and said member the terminal cam surfaces edge engage the related openings to accommodate outward extension of the outer leg of the related finger through the related opening into clamping association with the outer surface of said member whereby said outer legs provide a plurality of clamping means for the hair strands rolled on said member in approximate tandem arrangement along the entire longitudinal peripheral length of said member.

2. In a device to facilitate the curling of hair, an axially elongated open-ended hollow member adapted to roll hair strands over substantially the entire outer peripheral surface thereof, said member having a plurality of holes formed in the surface thereof and extending therethrough, said holes being distributed both radially and longitudinally over said peripheral surface, a stern element telescopically inserted into the member via an open end thereof, a plurality of flexible fingers each having an integral cantilever connection at one end thereof to the element, said fingers being distributed radially around and longitudinally along the element, said fingers includ ing outer clamping segments operative to pressure engage the inner surface of the member in open position of the device, radially directed cam surfaces on the outer termini of the segments, certain of said segments being alignable with said holes, other of said segments being arranged for operative cooperation with an edge terminus of the member, whereby, upon determined relative longitudinal motion between the element and the member said certain segments edge engage said holes and are cam biased to move through said holes and said other segments engage the edge terminus of the member and are cam biased radially outwardly of the peripheral outer surface of the member, all of said segments being urged by said motion into clamping engagement with the outer surface of the member to secure thereto hair strands rolled thereon, said clamping segments in the closed position of the device being disposed radially around and longitudinally along the outer peripheral surface of the member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examinerr 

2. IN A DEVICE TO FACILITATE THE CURLING OF HAIR, AN AXIALLY ELONGATED OPEN-ENDED HOLLOW MEMBER ADAPTED TO ROLL HAIR STRANDS OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF, SAID MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES FORMED IN THE SURFACE THEREOF AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, SAID HOLES BEING DISTRIBUTED BOTH RADIALLY AND LONGITUDINALLY OVER SAID PERIPHERAL SURFACE, A STEM ELEMENT TELESCOPICALLY INSERTED INTO THE MEMBER VIA AN OPEN END THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF FLEXIBLE FINGERS EACH HAVING AN INTEGRAL CANTILEVER CONNECTION AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE ELEMENT, SAID FINGERS BEING DISTRIBUTED RADIALLY AROUND AND LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE ELEMENT, SAID FINGERS INCLUDING OUTER CLAMPING SEGMENTS OPERATIVE TO PRESSURE ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF THE MEMBER IN OPEN POSITION OF THE DEVICE, RADIALLY DIRECTED CAM SURFACES ON THE OUTER TERMINI OF THE SEGMENTS, CERTAIN OF SAID SEGMENTS BEING ALIGNABLE WITH SAID HOLES, OTHER OF SAID SEGMENTS BEING ARRANGED FOR OPERATIVE COOPERATION WITH AN EDGE TERMINUS OF THE MEMBER, WHEREBY, UPON DETERMINED RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOTION BETWEEN THE ELEMENT AND THE MEMBER SAID CERTAIN SEGMENTS EDGE ENGAGE SAID HOLES AND ARE CAM BIASED TO MOVE THROUGH SAID HOLES AND SAID OTHER SEGMENTS ENGAGE THE EDGE TERMINUS OF THE MEMBER AND ARE CAM BIASED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE PERIPHERAL OUTER SURFACE OF THE MEMBER, ALL OF SAID SEGMENTS BEING URGED BY SAID MOTION INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE MEMBER TO SECURE THERETO HAIR STRANDS ROLLED THEREON, SAID CLAMPING SEGMENTS IN THE CLOSED POSITION IF THE DEVICE BEING DISPOSED RADIALLY AROUND AND LONGITUDINALLY ALONG THE OUTER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF THE MEMBER. 